Code translating recorder



March 6,' 1945- H. .1. NICHOLS 24,370,989

A CODE`TRANSLATING RECORDER i v Filed Dec. 28, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l March 6, 1945. H 1 NlHOLS 2,370,989

- CODE TRANSLATING RECORDER i Filed Dec. 28V, 1943 4 sheets-sheet 2A l. msm/15070;? cai/23456789 737/ 75,

a) a3 cc /P/Za /05 ATi'oRNEY March 6, 1945. g. J, MCHOLS 2,370,989

CODE TRANSLATING RECORDER Filed Dec. 28, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTTO R N EY H. .1. NICHOLS 2,370,989

CODE TRANSLATING RECORDER Filed nec. 2a, 194s 4 sheets-sheet 4 March 6,1945.

TNZE'NTOR I 0 0 0 C 0 0 A 0 .Nulm. 0

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 6, 1945 CoDE TRANsLA'rmG RECORDER Harry J. Nichols, New York, N. Y., assigner to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 28, 1943, Serial No. 515,981

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for Con-l verting telegraphically transmitted signals in one Code, into a record in a different Code. It is particularly concerned with the conversion of signals in a combinational code wherein at least some of the Code designations may represent either of two different characters, depending upon preceding key code signals, into a code wherein a different code designation is used for each character.

One application of the invention is the conversion of data transmitted in tive position telegraphic code, into a control record of the type used to control statistical machines, employing a Code which provides a distinct code designation for each character.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus capable of performing the described function, which is simple and reliable in operation, and adapted for combination with standard telegraph lines.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a simpliiied side elevational view, with parts in section, of a punch for punching the Control records.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the escapement mechanism of the punch shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a timing diagram of the receiving apparatus.

Figs. 4a and 4b are two parts of a circuit diagram of the receiving and punching units.

Fig. 5 is a record card, with a middle section broken away, showing a statistical code in which the data can be recorded by the punch disclosed in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a diagram' of the generally used ve position telegraphic code which may be employed for the transmitted signals.

Fig. 7 is an example of data represented by the telegraphic code shown in Fig. 6.

, Fig. 8 is a portion a record Card showing the same data converted into the statistical code illustrated in Fig. 5.

The recording unit An apparatus in accordance with the invention will include a recording unit and a receiving and translating unit controlling the recording unit. By way of illustration I have shown in the drawing a recording unit of the type known as an International Duplicating Punch. The construction of these machines has been fully disclosed in a number of patents, among which are the patents to Lee 8: Daly, No,'1,976,6l8 and to Page, No. 2,107,061. These punching machines punch holes such as 9 (Fig. 5) in record cards C, in acordance with the code shown in Fig. 5. The holes are selectively located in vertical columns and horizontal rows of index point positions. The holes in one column designate one character. If the character is a letter it is represented by a combination of a hole in one of the R, X, or 0 positions with a hole in one of the 1-9 positions; if it is a number it is represented by a single hole in one of the 0-9 positions.

In the drawings of the present application, only the parts of the punch which will be required to explain the invention are shown. There are twelve punches I Il, only one of which appears in Fig. l. These are arranged in a line and spaced apart in accordance with the vertical index point spacing o1 the record card. The punches arev pressing bar I8 mounted on a plate I9 pivoted at 20 upon a stationary part, which is not shown in the drawings. A link 2| articulated at 22 t0 a flange of the plate I 9 extends downward and is pivotally connected by a. bell crank lever 23 and a link 24 to an armature 25 pivoted on a stationary pin 26. T'he armature is operated by a punch magnet 3l). Each interposer is connected by a related bell crank lever 3I to a, key stem-32. which can be depressed by an individual lever 33 having secured thereto an armature 34 operated by a related punchselector magnet 35. When any magnet 35 is energized, the interposer I1 pertaining thereto executes a movement to the left, so that its top edge Ila is positioned under the depressing bar I8. In moving to the left the interposer rocks a bail 36 to which is pivotally connected a hooked arm 31, the hook of which engages under the lower spring of a pair of contacts 38. As will be described later in connec' tion with the wiring diagram, closure of contacts 3l completes a circuit to energize the punch mag'- Consequently, the energization of any net 30.

. rlink 24 has xed to it a lug 39 which the hook 31 from the lower contact 3S when the l armature 25 swings to the right, allowing the contacts 38 to open and. break the circuit of the punch magnet til. Ii two selector magnets 35 are energized at a time the related interposers will be positioned under the depressing bar i8 when the latter moves clown, making Aa corresponding combination of perforations in the record card. Y

After each column of the record card is punched, the ratchet bar ill is allowed to move a distance of one column width to the left, to position the next column of the record card under the punches. The movement of the ratchet bar M is controlled by an escapement mechanism shown principally in Fig. 2. Normally engaged with the ratchet "par il@ is a stepping dog Ml mounted on a pivot rod el by a ioose connection permitting a slight movement of the stepping dog parallel to the direction of travel of the ratchet bar iii. Thev stepping dog is biased to the right and clockwise by a spring (i2, but is normally held at the left end of its limited movement by the spring driving means (not shown) of the ratchet bar i4. The shaft di is mounted to rock in stationary bearings and has fixed to it a cross arm s3 bearing at its two ends pins ed and 45. The pin c@ extends into a relatively large hole 45 in the stepping d og 50, while the pin 45 projects into a slot il of a locking dog Q8 rockably mounted on a stationary pivot 4S. The shaft ti also has fixed to it a :bail EB (Fig. l), from the cross Vhar 56a of which extends upwardly a nger lilib bearing against the bottom of the plate i3. Whe the plate rocks downward the bail rocks the shaft il counterclockwise, the pin 64 lifts the stepping dog 40 from the ratchet bar M and depresses the locking dog 4B into the path of a tooth on the ratchet bar. When the stepping dog is released from the ratchet bar it springs to the right, under the action of spring 42, into position to rock in front of the next tooth-on the ratchet bar when the shaft Il is rocked back in clock- -wise direction and retracts the stepping dog 4 8 from the ratchet bar. Thus, each time the plate I9 is depressed to perforat'e a column of the card and then raised when the punch magnet 30 is deenergized, the ratchet bar I4 escapes to the left for one tooth space, which causes a movement of the card for one column Width. A release magnet 55 operates a bell crank lever 5S having a pin 51 engaging under the stepping dog IIL This mechanism is provided to release the ratchet bar Il entirely from the control of the escapement mechanism in order to allow the card to inove to the iastcolu'mn position for ejection in the well known manner, as shown, for example, in the above mentioned patents.

The telegroph'ic code signal components to represent the letter A, for

example, is a marking (current)v condition duraereos@ symbol or a signal. The punctuation marks and other symbols are not recorded in the present example andare therefore not shown in Fig. 6. The two classes of significations are distinguished by inserting a key code signal in the sequence each time there is a change from one class to the other. The two key code signals are called, respectively, Letters Shift and Figures Shift and are shown at the right end of the diagram, Fig. 6. In ordinary telegraph work they cause the printer to shift from one case to the other. There are also signals for Carriage Return, Line Feed, and Space, which cause corresponding functional operatons of the printer.

It will be assumed that the signals are transmitted on the start-stop principle. A transmitter operating on this principle usually comprises a rotary distributor which maintains a marking condition on the line when latched in stationary position between signals. When a signal combination is transmitted the distributor is unlatched and, in the course of one revolution, at the'enc of which it is stopped, it impresses upon the line a start signal (spacing condition), followed by ve code combination signal components, and a lnal stop signal (marking condition). The five code signal components in any given cycle are constituted by a combination or" five marking or spacing conditions in the ve code signal segments of the cycle, conforming to the code diagram, Fis. 6.

The receiving station At the receiving station the line contains a line relay S0 and is grounded at G. Between signals the contact arm @i of the line relayv is held against the marking contact M by the marking current of the line. The starting signal allows it to move to the spacing contact S.

The receiving unit includes 'a distributor which.

' ltent 13 pivoted at 14 and held in eiective position by a normally energized clutch magnet 15 acting against the pull of a spring 16. The distributor shaft 10 is driven atapproximately the same speed as the distributor at the transmitting station. It has fixed upon it a number of cams identified as CB, l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,1, 8, and 9, respectively. During a revolution of the shaft each of these cams -closes an associated pair of contacts CCB, CI, C2 C9. 'I'he times of closure of these contacts are shown in Fig. 3, which represents two cycles. Between signals, the contact arm 6i being held by marking current against the marking contact M, current is supplied from the positive terminal A+ of a local source of current, through wire 18, the marking contact M of relay 60, wire 80, normallyV closed contacts' Cl, clutch magnet 15, and wire 19, to the negative terminal A of said local source A of current. Every signal. startsl with a spacingl condition, which transfers the contact arm 6l, opening the circuit of clutch magnet 15 and releasing the clutch 12. The shaft 10 is set in rotation and the contacts CI, C2, C3, C4, and C5 are closed in succession during the different segments of the cycle indicated in Fig. 3. The contacts CCB close` during the closure of each of the contacts CI, C2 C5. The code signal components which follow the starting signal on the line are distributed by the last mentioned contacts and storedin a group of storing relays RI, R2, R3, R4, R5. For example, if the first signal component is a marking condition a circuit is completed from the positive terminal A+ through wire 18, the marking contact M of line relay 60, wire 80, contacts CCB and CI, wire 8|, normally closed contacts RIa, RIm. relay RI, wires 86 and 19,` to the negative terminal .A, energizing said relay. Contact spring RIm transfers, completing a holding circuit for relay RI from terminal A+, Wire 81, contacts C9 (now closed), wire 88, contacts RIb, RIm, relay RI, wires 86 and 19, to negative terminal A-. If

the second component of the signal is a spacing condition the contact arm 6 of the line relay will be on the spacing contacts during the time the contacts C2 are closed and the relay R2 will remain deenergized. The condition of the storing relays will thus reflect the nature of the ve code components which constitute the signal.

The relays RI, R2. and R3 have an array of contacts connected ina pyramidal group, at the apex of which is a contact spring Rm connected by a wire 89 to one of the pair of contacts C6. The other one of this pair of contacts isconnected by wire 81 to the positive terminal A+. At the base of the pyramid is a series of eight contacts R30, R3d R32', R3; connected, respectively, by eight wires 9|, 92 91, 98 to terminals of eight primary selection relays RI I, R|2 RI1, RIB. The Vopposite terminals of these relays are connected by a common wire 99 and Wire 19 tov the negative terminal A-. The relays R5 and R4 also have an array of contacts connected in a pyramidal group, at the apex of which is a contact spring R511 connected by a wire 90 to one of the pair of contacts C1. The other one of this pair of contacts is connected by a wire to the positive terminal B+ of a second local source of current. At the base of the second pyramid is a series of four contacts R4c, R4d, R4c, R4f c'onnected, respectively, to four wires |0I, |02, |03,

and |04. There is a set of twenty-nine translatf ing relays R2I, R22 R48, R49 and two shift relays R50 and RSI. Each of the shift relays has a pick up coil and a holding coil. One terminal of the pick up coil of each relay R50 and RSI is connected to the Wire |0I. The single windings of the relays R2I, R22 R48, R49 are connected by one terminal to various ones of the four wires IOI, |02, |03, or |04. The opposite terminals of the pick up coils,of relays R50 and RSI and of the single coils of relays R2 I, R22 R48,.R49 are connected, respectively, to-individual contacts RIIa, RIIb, RIIc, RI Id, RI2a, R|2b RI8a, RI8b, RI8c pertaining to the primary selection relays R|I,R|2 R|8. The last mentioned contacts are grouped for coaction with the e contacts operated by the armatures |05 of the relays RII, RI2-RI8-and said e contacts are all connected by a wire |06 to the negative terminal B- of said second local source of current.

The translating relays R2Iy R22 R49 (except relays R39 and R41) have contacts arranged in two groups, one group comprising the a contacts and the other the b and c contacts. These two groups are alternatively supplied with current from the positive terminal B+, through wire -lease magnet S5.

|00, contacts C1, wire 90, transfer contacts R5lc, or RSId. and wires |01, or |08. The relays R39 and R41 have no a contacts and their b and c contacts are supplied with current through a wire |09 branching from the wire 90, regardless of the position of transfer contacts RSIc, RSId. The a, b, and c contacts of the relays R2I, R22 R49 are variously connected to the wires of a cable |I0 (Fig. 4b) which wires respectively lead to the several punch selector magnets 35, the punch magnet 30, a signal bell III, and the re- The index point positions to which the respective magnets 35 pertain are indicated at the right of these magnets in Fig. 4b and the related wires of the cable |I0 are similarly identified at the top of this figure. The

wires leading to the punch magnet, the release magnet, and the bell are identified by the letters IP, R, and B, respectively. The wires which extend through to Fig. 4a are similarly identied. The magnets 3S, 30, and 55 and the bell III are all connected to the wire |06 leading to the terminal B-.

Operation The operation of the system will now be explained by showing how the telegraphically transmitted sequence of signals shown in Fig. '1. signifying 18 Citric Acid, is converted into the perforated record shown in Fig. 8. The card in which the record is to be perforated is assumed to be positioned in the punching machine (Fig. 1), with column 64 under the punches. Since the .first character signal represents the numeral Relay R2 is similarly energized when contacts C2 close, the second signal component being aA marking condition. Relay R3 is not energized when `contacts C3 close, because the third signal component is a spacing condition. At the end of the third signal component the contacts Rin, R2n, and R20 have transferred, While the contacts R311, R30, R310. and R3q remain in normal position. At this time the contacts C6 close, completing a circuit from the terminal A+, through wire 81, said contacts C6, Wire 89, contacts Rln and RIc. contacts R2n and R20, contacts R311. and R311, wire 92, relay RIZ, Wires 99 and 19 to terminal A, the energization of relay RI 2 the fourth and fifth code signal components Vare received in succession. Being marking conditions they cause the relays R4 and R5 to be energized and the contacts R4m and R5m transfer and complete holding circuits for these relays. The contacts R41L. R40, and RSnalso transfer and set up a circuit which is completed by closure of contacts C1 as follows:

From terminal B+ through wire |00, said contacts C1, contacts R571. and RSc, contacts R411 and R4c, wire |0I, the pick up coil of relay RSI, Wire II5, contacts R|2d and RI2e, wire |06, to terminal B-, energizing said Fig. Shift relay. The contacts R5Ia and RSIc open and contacts R5Ib and RSId close, contacts RSIb completing a hold- 'ing circuit for relay RSI from terminal A+ energizing said relay. Concurrently with' through wires 81 and lili, said contacts RMI,

normally closed contacts R502, holding coil of relay Rl, Wires i l1 and 19, to terminal A.

Contacts CB close in the last segment of the cycle, at which time the stop signal (a marking condition) holds the line relay on the marking contact, causing the clutch magnet to be reenergized in time to release the clutch and stop the shaft 10 at the end oi the cycle. Just before the end of the cycle the contacts Ct, Cl, and Copen, dropping out the relay RBB, the pick up coil of relay R55, and the storing relays Rl, Ril, Ril, md R5. The holding coil of relay Rill remains energized. Thev punching machine is not affected by this signal combination.

The distributor shaft. 10 isset in rotation again by the start signal preceding the second code combination. This is the combinationl, 2, il, 5

signifying the digit 1. The four marking signal components are stored in the relays Ri, R2, R3, and R5, in the same manner as before. Upon closure of contacts CG a circuit is completed from terminal A+ `through wire 89, contacts Rin and contacts Rllc and Rlle, and Wire |06, to terminal B-, energizing said relay. The contacts R23a, R23b, and R23c all close, but only the first mentioned pair is effective. It completes acircuit from terminal B+ through contacts C1, wire $0, contacts R5Id, wire i03, contacts R23a, the #l wire of cable H0, the #1 punch selector magnet 35, and Wire |06, to the terminal B-, energizing said magnet. The interposer i1 shifted by the-#1 selector magnet rocks the bail 35 and i closes the contacts 38, completing an obvious circuit through punch magnet 30. The punch operates in the manner previously described to perfrate the #l index point position of the card and to feed the card to bring column S5 under the punches.

The third signal combination is 2, 3, designating the digit 8. Accordingly marking signal components are stored in relays R2 and R3, while spacing signal components are stored in relays RI, R4, and R5. Circuits are thus completed, in

a manner similar to those previously traced, to 'cause the-relays R15 and R35 to be energized.

An impulse is transmitted through contacts Ra,

wire #8 of cable H0, and the #8 selector magnet 35, energizing said magnet and causing a. hole to be punched in the #8 .index point position of column and the card to be fed to position column ll under the punches.

The fourth code combination is I, 2, 3, 4, 5, the

Letters Shift, indicating a change to alphabetical characters. The five relays RI, R2, R3, R4, and Rl all store marking signal components and setl up circuits to energize relays RII and and R50. Contacts R50!) open, breaking the holding circuit 0f relay Ril, which becomes deenergized, allowing its contacts Rla and R5Ic to return to normal closed position and contacts R5lb and Rild to open. Contacts R50a close, completing a circuit through the holding coil' of relay R50; this extends from wire H6 through contacts R5la and Rlla.

' The fourth code combination is v2, 3, 4,' designoting the letter C. 'I'he corresponding storage relays R2, R3, and R4 are energized and set up circuits throuzh which relays RIB and R36 are asraosa energized. The contacts Ra, b, and c all close, but only the latter two are eective. They transmit impulses through the #3 and #12 wires of cable H0 and the corresponding selector magg, nets 35, energizing said magnets and causing holes to be punched in the #3 and #l2 index point positions of column 5B and the card to be fed to position column 6l under the punches.

:The perforation of the card in response to the sixth to the tenth code combination, to designate the Vletters ITRIC in columns 6l to 1l, proceeds in the same manner. Theelcventh signal is a single 3, designatinga space, which causes the storage relays to set up the circuits of relays Ril and R48. Both the a and b contacts of relay R43 are connected to the P wire of cable H0. In the present case, since the Letters Shift relay R50 is energized and the contacts R5'lc are closed, the impulse is transmitted through contacts R431: tothe P wire of cable H0 and the punch magnet 30. The resulting energization of magnet 30, without any selector magnet 35 being energized, causes the card to escape to the column 13 position without perforating column 12.

The perforation of columns 13 to it, in response to signal combinations i2 to i5, to designate the letters Aclllproceeds in the same manner. o

The sixteenth signal combination is 4, the carriage return signal. This leaves a setting of the storage relays which causes the relays RI'B and 'R41 to be energized. Through wire i053, contacts R411), and the R Wire of cable H0, an impulse is transmitted to release magnet 55. The energization of this magnet frees the escapement mechanism and allows the card to be fed through the column 00 position, from which it is ejected in well known manner. 40 A line feed signal, namely a 2, is shown in the seventeenthv signal position. This causesv the relays RIS and R33 to be energized, with the same effect as the carriage return signal, namely, the energization of the release magnet 55. Either one of'these signals will therefore cause the card tobe ejected.

The occurrence of the Fig. Shift signal i, 2, 4, 5, followed by the Bell signal i, 3, as shown in the eighteenth and nineteenth signal positions,

to transmit an impulse through wire B of cable- I l0 tothe signal bell l I I.

While there have been shown `and described bodirnent, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to-be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is: C 1. In a system for converting telegraphically transmitted signals in a combinational code wherein'at least some of the code designations represent either of two diierent characters, de-

pending uponprcceding key code signals, into-a cderecord wherein a diiferent code` designation is used for each character; receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals, storing relays selectively'operated by said receiving means and pointed out the fundamental novel featuresl of the invention as applied to a preferred ern^ according to the code designations of the received signals, a recording mechanism comprising selectively operable code magnets, one for each code position of the second code, translating means including relays selectively controlled by said storing relays, said translating relays having two alternative groups of contacts diierently connected to said code magnets, to control the selective energization of said code magnets, and shift means controlled by said storage relays to render said groups of contacts alternately effective in response to key code signals stored.

2. A system asdescribed in claim l, wherein said shift means comprises two relays respectively operable, under control of said storage relays, in response to the storage of two different key code signals.

3. A system as described in claim i, wherein said shift means comprises two relays respectively operable, under control of said storage relays, in response to the storage of two diierent key code signals, e'ach shift relay having an associated holding circuit including normally closed contacts adapted to be opened by the other shift relay. Y

4. In a system for converting telegraphically transmitted si'gnals in a combinational code wherein at least some of the code designations represent either of two different characters, depending upon preceding key code signals, into a code record wherein a different code designation is used for each character, signal storing means including a plurality of selectively operable relay magnets and associated contacts, receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals and includ- .transmittedsignals in a combinational code wherein at least some of the code designations represent either of two dilerent characters, depending upon preceding key code signals, into a code record wherein a different code designation is used for each character, signal storing means including a plurality of selectively operable relay magnets and associated contacts, receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals and including means to distribute energizing impulses to said relay magnets corresponding to the code designations of the signals, a plurality of translating relay magnets and normally open energizing circuits therefor, means including the contacts of said storing relay magnets for selectively setting up said energizing circuits, said distributing means including means operable on receipt of each signal to transmit an energizing current through the set up energizing circuit to energize the related translating relay magnet, a recording mechanism comprising a plurality of code magnets, one for each position of the second code, means including two alternative groups code signals, for rendering one or the other of said groups of relay contacts operative.

6. In combination with means for receiving telegraphically transmitted signals composed of sequences of differentially timed marking and spacing components in various combinations, said combinations representing Vcharacters in accordance with a code wherein at least some of the combinations represent either 'of two different characters, depending upon preceding key code signals; ymeans for' converting said telegraphic signals into a statistical code record wherein a different code designation is used for each character, comprising recording mechanism including selectively operable code recording elements, one v for each code position of the second code, a number of storing relays, one for each of the components of the telegraphic signals, energizing circuits for the respective storing relays, distributing means adapted to connect said energizing circuits sequentially to said receiving means, in accordance with the differential timing of the signal components, said receiving means, when responding to a marking condition, being adapted to transmit a current impulse to the vstoring relay then connectedthereto, translating means including a number of relays equal to the number of diierent character designating combinations of the telegraph code, means controlled by said storing relays for selectively energizing said trans- 'lating relays, means including two alternative groups of contacts pertaining to said translating relays, for controlling the selective operationoi Vsaid code recording elements, and shift means controlled by said storing relays, in response to the receipt of key code signals, for rendering said groups of translating relay contacts eiective a1- ternately.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein said storing relays are grouped according to rst and second subsequences of signal components of one combination and the means for selectively energizing said translating relays includes a pluof relay contacts associated with said translatrality of primary selection relays, energizing circuits for said primary selection relays including contacts pertaining to the storing relays for the rst subsequence, and energizing circuits for said translating relays including contacts pertaining to said primary selection relays Aand contacts pertaining to the storing relays for the second subsequence, said primary selection contacts and said second subsequence contacts being correlated according to a combinational scheme whereby the former partially prepare the energizing circuits of a group of said translating relays and the latter further prepare a single one of said partially prepared energizing circuits.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 6, wherein said storing relays are grouped according to first and second subsequences of signal components of one` combination and the means for selectively energizing said translating relays includes a plurality of primary Selection relays, energizing circuits for said primary selection relays including contacts pertaining to the storing relays for the rst subsequence, and contactsv closed by said distributing means immediately after the receipt of the last signal component of the first subsequence.

9. In an apparatus for recording in a statistical code wherein each character has a'diierent code designation, statistical data transmitted in a telegraphic code wherein certain different characters have the same code designation and are punching machine having a set of punches ccntrolled by individual magnets 'adapted to periorate record sheets in difierent index point positions to record data in said statistical code. a plurality of storing relays, receiving means responsive to the transmitted signals and adapted to distribute energizing impulses to said storing relays singly or in various combinations, in dependence upon the telegraphic code signals received thereby, translating 'means including e number of individually operable elements equal te the number oi diilerent character coole desie nations of said telegraphic code and tw@ groups nections operative.

HARRY J. NCHOLS. 

